Japan's world number 14 Kei Nishikori dumped defending champion Roger Federer out of the Madrid Masters at the third round stage on Thursday as he beat the 17-time Grand Slam champion 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. (AFP)

The Swiss seemed to have found his rhythm in the second as a double break saw him take the set 6-1, but Nishikori dominated the third set as he broke to go 2-1 in front and then again in the final game to move into the quarterfinals. (AP)

Nishikori made the breakthrough in the first set with Federer serving at 2-2 to move ahead and was comfortable on serve himself for the remainder of the set as he closed it out without even facing a break point. (AFP)

The 23-year-old was then untroubled on his own serve as he held to 15 and love in his next two service games. And Nishikori secured his first ever win over Federer when he broke again when Swiss fired long in the next game. (AFP)